In 2009, Oracle tried taking control over MySQL, a relational database management system (RDBMS). Oracle was MySQL’s biggest competitor and might have jeopardized the database system. To avoid losing MySQL’s structure and features, the developers forked MySQL and released a new database management system named MariaDB. By October 2009, MariaDB was released and developed by MariaDB Foundation.
Currently, MariaDB is a free, open source software managed by the parent companies – MariaDB Corporation AB and MariaDB Foundation. MariaDB has many in-built features, storage engines, improved security systems, and more. The software is an upgraded version of MySQL compatible with all operating systems, such as Windows, Linux, etc. Written in multiple languages, including Perl, C, bash, and C++, the popular forked software offers faster caching and supports native non-blocking operations. MariaDB also comprises plugins that can be loaded or unloaded without interruption while the server is running. Many world-class banks, Wikipedia, Google, Mozilla, and other high authority domains have adopted MariaDB.
Recently two new functionalities have been added to the software. MariaDB includes Advanced clustering with Galera Cluster 4 and features that make the software compatible with Temporal Data Tables and Oracle databases.